Method and apparatus for risk reduction during refrigerant leak

Abstract

A method of monitoring a refrigerant leak. The method includes monitoring, by a first controller, operation of a first HVAC system for conditioning air within a first level of a residence, monitoring, by a second controller, operation of a second HVAC system for conditioning air within a second level of the residence and determining, using a plurality of leak detectors, whether refrigerant within the first HVAC system is leaking. Responsive to a positive determination in the determining step, receiving, by the first controller, a refrigerant leak warning signal, forwarding, by the first controller to the second controller, the refrigerant leak warning signal. Responsive to receiving the refrigerant leak warning signal from the first controller, activating, by the second controller, a variable-speed circulation fan of the second HVAC system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of monitoring a refrigerant leak, the method comprising:
 monitoring, by a first controller, operation of a first heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for conditioning air within a first level of a residence; 
 monitoring, by a second controller, operation of a second HVAC system for conditioning air within a second level of the residence; 
 determining, using a plurality of leak detectors, that refrigerant within the first HVAC system is leaking; 
 responsive to a determination that refrigerant within the first HVAC system is leaking, receiving, by the first controller, a refrigerant leak warning signal; 
 forwarding, by the first controller to the second controller, the refrigerant leak warning signal; 
 responsive to receiving the refrigerant leak warning signal from the first controller, activating, by the second controller, a variable-speed circulation fan of the second HVAC system; 
 determining that the leaked refrigerant has not dispersed after activating the variable-speed circulation fan of the second HVAC system; and 
 responsive to the determination that the leaked refrigerant has not dispersed, activating a plurality of ceiling fans and a plurality of exhaust fans to disperse the leaked refrigerant. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 responsive to a determination that refrigerant within the first HVAC system is not leaking, returning to the monitoring step. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to a determination that the leaked refrigerant has dispersed, operating the first and second HVAC systems in a normal mode. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to a determination that refrigerant within the first HVAC system is leaking, forwarding a refrigerant leak warning signal to a plurality of smoke detectors to notify users of the refrigerant leak. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of leak detectors are positioned around a variable-speed circulation fan of the first HVAC system and the variable-speed circulation fan of the second HVAC system. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of leak detectors comprises at least one of a corona discharge leak detector, a heated diode leak detector, and an ultrasonic leak detector. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second controllers are configured to communicate with the plurality of leak detectors wirelessly. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second controllers are configured to communicate with the plurality of leak detectors using a cable connection. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining whether a refrigerant level is below a refrigerant threshold level; 
 responsive to a determination that the refrigerant level is below the refrigerant threshold level, returning to the monitoring step; and 
 responsive to a determination that the refrigerant level is not below the refrigerant threshold level, operating the first and second HVAC systems in a normal mode. 
 
     
     
       10. A system comprising:
 a first heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for conditioning air within a first level of a residence; 
 a second HVAC system for conditioning air within a second level of the residence; 
 a first plurality of leak detectors associated with at least one component of the first HVAC system; 
 a second plurality of leak detectors associated with at least one component of the second HVAC system; 
 a first controller configured to communicate with the first plurality of leak detectors; 
 a second controller configured to communicate with the second plurality of leak detectors; 
 wherein the first plurality of leak detectors are configured to:
 determine whether refrigerant within the first HVAC system is leaking; 
 responsive to a determination that refrigerant within the first HVAC system is leaking, forward to the first controller a refrigerant leak warning signal; 
 
 upon receiving the refrigerant leak warning signal, the first controller forwards the refrigerant leak warning signal to the second controller, wherein the second controller activates a variable-speed circulation fan of the second HVAC system responsive to the refrigerant leak detected in the first HVAC system; wherein at least one of the first and second controllers is configured to: 
 determine whether the leaked refrigerant has dispersed after activating the variable-speed circulation fan of the second HVAC system; and 
 responsive to a determination that the leaked refrigerant has not dispersed, activate a plurality of ceiling fans and a plurality of exhaust fans to disperse the leaked refrigerant. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein responsive to a determination that the leaked refrigerant has dispersed, operate the first and second HVAC systems in a normal mode. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein responsive to a determination that refrigerant within the first HVAC system is leaking, the first HVAC system causes the first controller to forward a refrigerant leak warning signal to a plurality of smoke detectors to notify users of the refrigerant leak. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first plurality of leak detectors are positioned around a variable-speed circulation fan of the first HVAC system; and 
 the second plurality of leak detectors are positioned around the variable-speed circulation fan of the second HVAC system. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second plurality of leak detectors comprise at least one of a corona discharge leak detector, a heated diode leak detector, and an ultrasonic leak detector. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first controller is configured to communicate with the first plurality of leak detectors wirelessly. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first controller is configured to communicate with the first plurality of leak detectors using a cable connection. 
     
     
       17. A method of monitoring a plurality of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for refrigerant leak, the method comprising:
 monitoring operation of the plurality of HVAC systems, wherein the plurality of HVAC systems comprise a first HVAC system comprising a first controller for conditioning air within a first level of a residence and a second HVAC system comprising a second controller for conditioning air within a second level of the residence; 
 determining, using a plurality of leak detectors, that refrigerant within the first HVAC system is leaking; 
 responsive to a determination that refrigerant within the first HVAC system is leaking, receiving, by the first controller, a refrigerant leak warning signal; 
 forwarding, by the first controller to the second controller, the refrigerant leak warning signal; 
 responsive to receiving the refrigerant leak warning signal from the first controller, activating, by the second controller, a variable-speed circulation fan of the second HVAC system; 
 determining that the leaked refrigerant has not dispersed after activating the variable-speed circulation fan of the second HVAC system; 
 responsive to the determination that the leaked refrigerant has not dispersed, the first controller modifies operation of communication devices by: 
 activating a plurality of ceiling fans; 
 activating a plurality of exhaust fans; and 
 forwarding a refrigerant leak warning signal to a plurality of smoke detectors to notify users of the refrigerant leak. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of leak detectors are positioned around a variable-speed circulation fan of the first HVAC system and the variable-speed circulation fan of the second HVAC system. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of leak detectors comprises at least one of a corona discharge leak detector, a heated diode leak detector, and an ultrasonic leak detector. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second controllers are configured to communicate with the plurality of leak detectors wirelessly.